Newspaper-assembling machine



nec. so, 192% D. L. HARFoRp NEWSPAPER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Flled Apri; 1;, 192g 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec, 30, 1924. 1,521,094

" D. L. HARFORD NEWSPAPER ASSEMBLING MACHIE I Fiiled April 13,' 1922 2 Shee'cs--Sheev'rI 2- Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNETED i SFATES DON I1. HARFORD, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA.

NEWSPAPER-ASSEMBLING MACHINE Application ined api-i1 13, 1922. serial No. 552,275.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, DON L. HARFORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of lowa, have invented a certain new and useful Newspaper-Assembling Machine, of which the following is a specification.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, for assembling the different sections of a newspaper, or similar printed matter, into one complete whole.

A further object is to provide such a machine wherein the sections are separated in piles Vwith their folds disposed in the same directions, and wherein the open edge of the papers will be raised for permitting the insertion of the section to be inserted.

A further object is toprovide such a machine wherein the inserted sections are carried by means of lugs iiXed to horizontally moving chains from one pile of sections to the pile of sections in which they are inserted.

ifi further object is to provide a machine in which the lifting of the free edges of the sections is accomplished by means of suction operated hands.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set' forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine, showing one of the newspaper sections in the process of being conveyed into the inside of another section.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the raising mechanism hereinbefore referred to, takenon the line 2 2.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the raising mechanism taken on the line Sv of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of my machine not shown in Figure 1, taken as indicated by the line %4; of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view of another portion of my machine not shown in Figure l, taken as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail, perspective view of a portion of one of the raising fingers.

lt is well known that in the printing This is a long and tedious process and my improved machine contemplates the inserting of the sections at a very high rate of speed.

In Figure 1, I have shown a perspective view of the machine, the frame of which I have indicated by the numeral 10. The frame l0 which forms what I shall term the forward end of the machine, supports the driving mechanism and part of the inserting mechanism hereinafter described.

The frame 10 has its rear end open and has thereon lianges 1l. An auxiliary frame 12 is` bolted to the frame 10 by means of ianges 13 coacting with the flanges 1l. The frame 12 supports the mechanism for conveying the inner sheets to the outer sheets which are supported within the frame 10. Where it is desired to insert several sections within one section, other frames similar to the frame 12, may be addedto the machine in order to accomplish this result.

Supported on the outside of the frame 10 is a gear 14 on a shaft 15, which may be connected with suitable drive mechanism (not shown). The gear 14 meshes with gears 16 and 17. Meshing with the gear 17 is a gear 18 on a shaft 19 running through the machine from side to side. On the shaft 19 are a pair of sprocket wheels 20. Supported in the rear end of the frame 12 is a shaft 21 which supports a pair of sprocket wheels 2O aligned with the sprockets 20. Below the sprockets 22 are a similar set of sprockets 23 and below the sprockets 2O are a pair of sprockets 24. Chains 25 pass around the sprockets 20 and around the sprockets 24, 28, and 22, respectively, which latter sprockets serve as idlers or guide sprockets.

On the chains 25 are inwardly projecting fingers or lugs 26 which are equidistantly spaced from each other. It may be here mentioned that the chains 25 are spaced from each other, a distance slightly more than the height of an ordinary newspaper, so that when a pile of newspaper sections is supported between the chains, in the proper position, the lingers 26 traveling forwardly in the machine, driven by the sprockets 20, will projectl inwardly jlust enough to catch the inner edge ef the fold of the newspaper section and carry the section forwardly in the machine. In order todo so, the upper sheet of the newspaper must be raised and this is accomplished by a mechanism which will be later described.

I will now describe the means for supporting the piles of sections and for raising them as they are carried forwardly in tlie'machine. On the shaft 19 is a bevel I'gear27. `Meshing with the gear 27 is a bevel igear 28 on a shaft 29, supported in brackets 30 and-31 (see Figure 4). On the shaft 29 is a gear 32 meshing with the gear 33 on a lshaft 34 supported in the brackets '30 and 31. The shaft 34 extends forwardly from the machine 4and has on its forward endan eccentric disk 35. A pitman 36 is `pivoted on an eccentric pin 37. Alever 38 is pivoted to the forward portion of the machine at its lower end, and the pitman 36 is pivoted to 'the yupper end of the lever 38 by means of a bolt 39 extending through 'a ho'le40 in the bar 38. By using several holes 40, the amount of motion transmitted tothe bar 38 may be varied.

The bar 38 has ay pawl 41 coacting with 'a ratchet 42 on a shaft 43, which extends fromthe forward end of the machine to a bracket 43a adjacent to the shaft 19.

On the other side of the machine from the gear 18, vand fixed to the shaft 19 is a bevel gear 44 (see Figure 5). The bevel 'gear 44 meshes with a similar gear 45 on a shaft 46, which is supported in brackets 47 and 48 on the frame 10. A gear 49 on the shaft 46 meshes with the gear 50, on the' shaft 51, which extends from the bracket 47 ito 'a bracket 52 in the rear end of the naine 1Q.

On the end of the shaft 51 is a ratchet mechanism 53 similar to the ratchet mechanism already described. The ratchet mechanism 53 includes a ratchet 54, which is supported on a shaft 55. The shaft 55 is journalled in the frame 12 and a bracket y56s'ituated at about. .the center` of the machine. It will be noted that the shafts 55 'andi43 extend longitudinally of the machine and `are spaced slightly from the inside of the machine at the upper portion thereof. On the shaft 55 are reels 57, 58. 59 land 60. Ropes 61 are wrapped about the reels 57 and 58 and extend downwardly. Ropes 62 are wrapped about the reels 59, and 6() and extend downwardly to pulleys 63 andV 64 mounted in the lower portion of the frame 12. From the pulleys 64 the ropes 62 extend upwardly and around the pulleys 65 mounted inthe upper portion of the frame 12011 the other side from'the reels 59 and 60 and thence downwardly. To the free ends of the ropes 62 and 61 there is fastened a platform 66.

The ropes 61 and 62 "are so arranged that when the machine is in operation, the reels 57, 58, 59, and 60 will turn in such directions as to wind up the ropes and raise the platform y66 at a rate corresponding to the rate at-,wh'ich the newspaper sections supported on the platform 66 are carried away by the fingers 26.

It will be noted that the shaft 55 extends into the frame 10 in the rear end 4of which is supported a platform 67, which is ope-rated by cables '68 wrapped 'about reels 69 on the shaft 55. The mechanism for "raisL ing the platform is identical with the mech-v anism already described. `Itwvill be noted that the platforms 66 and'67 will vascend at the same rate of speed.v If itis desired to lower one platform at a faster "rate `than the other, this may be accomplished by replacing the reels 69 with reels of slightly different diameters.

I will now describe the mechanism whereby the upper sheets of the sections are raised in order to permit the entrance of the fingers 26 within the sections. Mounted on the frame 1 0 and meshing with the gear 16 is a gear 70, which carries l'a bevel gear 71 in mesh with a bevel gear 72 on a shaft 73 which is journalled in bearings 74 on the frames 10 and 12 respectively.

The frames 10 and 12 have upwardly extending supports 75 which 'provide at their upper ends bearings for shafts 76 journalled therein. On the shafts 76 are a plurality of fingers 77 which are curved downwardly. On'the en'd of the shafts 76 are levers 78 having in their outer ends holes 79.

Mounted in the main frame of the machine adjacent to the upright members 7 5 are bearings 80, inV which are slidably mounted shafts 81. The shafts 81 have at their lower ends yokes 82 in which are pivoted connecting rods 83. Onthe shaft 7 3 are eccentric disks 84 which are received in rings 85 on the ends of the connecting rods.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that when the shaft 73 is rota-ted,`

the slidable shafts 81 will be given a vertical reciproc-ating` motion. A link 86 connects the shafts 81 with the leve-r 78, thus imparting reciprocating rotating motion to the shafts 76. On the upper ends of the shafts 81 are fixed arms 87 which extend inwardly to a point above a rear corner of the platforms. The arms 87 support downwardly extendingarms 88 on the lower end of which are hands 89. It maybementioned here that the .purpose ofthe hand 89 is to lift one corne-r of the section ofppaperand that the. purpose of the'downwardly curved fingers 77 is to engage the under surface of the lifted sheets and raise them from one side to the other. Y

In order to properly describe 4the position which the newspaper sections assume when placed. in the machine it will first be necessary to mention. the manner in which. the paper is folded. During the process of printing, the paper is folded first on a vertical line and then again folded on a trans-- verse line. I will refer to the newspaper withthe number 90, this first vertical fold with the number 91, and the transverse fold with the number 92.

The sections are arranged in the machine on the platforms 66 and 67 so that the fold 92 is toward the front of the machine, and the fold 91 is adjacent to the side of the machinel on which the hands 89 are supported.

The upper section illustrated in Figure l of the pile of papers on the platform 66, I will refer to with the letter A and the upper section of the platform 67 lwith the letter B. The mechanism to which the hands S9 are attached is so arranged that the hands 89 descend upon one corner of the section when the curved fingers 77 are in their receded position. The hands 89 are designed to have suction cups in their under surfaces and are connected by means of hose 93 to a suction pump 9a which is driven from the shaft l5.

As the sha-ft 7 3 rotates, the shaft 81 will be lifted, the corner of the paper engaged by the hand 89 will be raised and the fingers 77 will then enter under the raised portion and continue the raising along the entire width of the sheet. It will be noted that in order to accomplish this result each finger 77 is ositioned a little to the rear of the adjacent ngers nearest the hand 89 as: illustrated in Figure 2. This is necessary in order that each finger may raise the sheet sufficiently for the next finger to enter.

Vhen the hands 89 and the fingers 77 are at their upper limit of motion, the lugs 26 on the chain 25 will enter between the upraised portion of the paper and the lower half, and will then travel forwardly until they engage the fold 92. The section A will be carried forwardly by the lugs 26 at the correct time so that it will enter under the upraised portion of the section B when the mechanism acting upon the section is at its upper limit of movement.

It will be noted that while one section A is being inserted within the section B, another section A is being opened in order to permit the entrance of the fingers 26.

In order to remove the sections from the lugs 26, I provide a set of conveyor belts 95, supported on shafts 96 and 97 in the main frame 10. A pinion 97a on the end of the shaft 96, meshes with the gear 16 in o-rder to drive the conveyorI belts and the gear ratio is such that the belts will travel at a faster rate than the chain 25 so that the papers will be withdrawn from the lugs 26 before the lugs 26 start downwardly in the machine. Conveyor belts 95 are. so situater in the machine as to engage the lower surface of the newspaper sections while they are being supported by the fingers or lugs 36.

A platform 98 receives the paper sections and is lowered by reels 99 similar to the raising mechanism hereinbefore described. The reels 99 are mounted on the shaft 4:3 which is operated by the ratchet mechanism heretofore described. I have provided curved guide lingers 100 which Vcatch the sections as they are discharged from the belts 95 and guide them to position on the platform 98.

It may be mentioned here that the suction applied to the hands 89 is continuous and that the paper will be gripped instantly when the hand 89 touches the section. It will be noted that two sheets are lifted as soon as the hand 89 engages the side of the paper which has the fold 9i and thus the lugs 26 are inserted between the upper and lower halves of the section. I have found that the grip produced by the suction hands is positive and that the sheets may be lifted very rapidly without danger of disengaging themselves from the hands. It will be noted that the papers are slid longitudinally in order to remove them from a hand and I have found that this is accomplished very easily. The action of the lingers 77 is positive and I have found that they never fail to enter the sections since the hands 89 lift the paper to the same height each time and the fingers 77 swing forwardly in exactly the same position.

It will be seen that the reciprocating parts are very light and have very little inertia and therefore the machine may be run at a very high rate of speed without interfering with the proper operation. With the use of my improved machine, one man can do the work of tenin the same length of time and the completed papers will be much more uniformly assembled.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved device without departing from the essential features and purposes of my in vention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a machine for assembling folded sections of paper wherein the sections are supported in piles with their side edges adjacent and the folded portions disposed in the same direction, horizontally moving members adapted to enter each folded section, suction operated means for raising a free corner of each section and fingers adapted to enter the sections under the lifted portion and to lift the upper sheet of the section to a point Where the horizontally moving members may enter the sections.

2. A'machine for assembling folded sections of paper, including a pair of laterally spaced horizontal chains adapted to move past the end edges of. a series of piles of folded paper sections, lugs on said chains adapted toy engage the inside of the folded portion of each paper means for raising. a free corner of. the upper sheet of each: section and lingers adapted vto enter rthe sections'r under the liifted portion and to` lift the upper sheet toa. point WhereA the `liigs will/enter the sections;

3. In a machine for assembling folded sections of paper, wherein: the sections are supported in piles with their side edges adjacent and the folded portions disposed in the same direction, horizontally moving members adapted` to.- enter each folded section for conveying` it 'to the next folded section, means for carrying said horizon-tally moving members, and means for raising. the upper sheet of each folded section for allowing saidV horizontally moving members to enter the sections, said means comprising suction operated members adapted to lift the` free corners of the upper sheets of the sections andi curved fingers adapted to enter the sections under the lifted portion andV to lift the upper sheet to a point where the horizontally moving members will enter the sections..

4. In a newspaperv assembling` machine, means for supporting a number of piles of paper sections with their side edges` adjacent, means for raising a freeV corner of the top sheets of said sections, fingers adapted to enter the sections under the lifted por- .tion andto Vfurther lift the entire free edge of the top sheets of the sections, and means adapted to engage theinside ofthe folded portion: of said sections, and convey each section tothe next succeeding section,` for inserting each section within the upraised sheet of each succeeding section.

5. In a machine for assembling folded sections-of paper wherein the sections-.are supported in piles with their side edges adjacent and the folded portions disposedin the same direction, horizontally .moving -members adapted to enter each folded section for conveying it to the next folded section, `mean-s for raising a free corner of each section and fingers ladapted to enter the sections under the lifted portion and to lift the upper sheet of the section to a point where the horizontally moving members may lenter the sections.

6. In a machine for assembling folded sections of paper, wherein the sections are supported in piles with their side edges adjacent and the folded portions disposed'in the same direction, a pair of horizontailchains adapted to move past the end edges ofthe sections,l `lugs on sairlv chains-adapted to engage the inside of the folded.v portioniof each paper, means for raising the upper sheetv of each section for allowing the lugs. to venter said sections, said means: comprising ver tically `reciprocatling vertical a-rms suction months `at the lower ends: thereofmeans for creating a vacuum therein, said! arms: being arranged to descend at the proper time on the free corners of the Aappel sheets ofthe sections, and curvedI fingers adapt'edrto enter the sections 'under the lifted portion: and to lift the upper sheet to a point where the lugs will enter the section'.

7. A machine for assembling folded 'sections of paper, wherein the sections aresupported in piles with their side .edges adjacent and the folded portions disposed inthe same direction, horizontally .moving "members adapted to; enter eaclr Vfolded section, means for raising free corner of each'section, and fingers adapted 'to enter'the sections `under the lifted portionand toY lifft the upper sheet ofthe section toy a point where the horizontally moving.y members may enter the sections,said fingersfbeing mounted onk anl oscillating shaft and spaced angularly from each other from one end of saidshaft to lthe other. Y

8. In a machine for assembling'folded sections of newspapers, wherein. the sections are supported inpiles with their side edges adjacent and the `folded portions disposed in the same direction, horizontally moving members adapted to enter eachl folded section for carrying it to the next folded section, suction operated hands -for vlifting the free edge. of each section, a 'vertically reciprocating carriage therefor, a rotating drive j shaft, an eccentric disc thereon, and. a pitman connecting said eccentric disc andsaid drive shaft for imparting vertical reciproi eating motion to the carriage.

9. In a machine for assembling foldedsections of newspapers, wherein 'the sections are supported'in piles with their side edges adjacent and thefolded portions disposed in the same direction, horizontally moving members adapted to enter'each foldedsection for `carrying it to the next foldedsection, suction operated hands for :lifting the free edge of each section, a vertically reciprocating carriage therefor, a rotating drive shaft, an eccentric disk thereon, anda pitman connecting said eccentric disc and said drive shaft for imparting vertical reciprocating motion to the carriage, fingers adapted to enter the sections under the lifted kportion and to lift the ripper sheet of the .sectionto a` point where the horizontally movin-g members may enter th-e sections, said fingers being mounted on an oscillating shaft and spaced angularly from each other from one end of said shaft to the other, a lever on the end ofsaid reciprocating shaft, and

a link connecting said lever to the vertically reciprocating carriage for transferring oscillating motion to the lever.

l0. A machine for assembling folded sections of paper, wherein the sections are sup-A ported in piles with their side edges adjacent and the folded portions disposed in the same direction, horizontally moving members adapted to enter each folded sectionI` means for raising` a free corner of each section, and fingers adapted to enter the sections under the lifted portions and to lift the upper sheet of the section to a point where the horizontally moving members may enter the sections, elevating platforms in the rear end of the machine for supporting the separate sections, a lowering platform in the forward end of the machine for receiving` the assembled sections, a shaft mounted longitudinally of the machine for the elevating platform, a shaft for the lowering platform, drums thereon cables around said drums extending down to one side of each platform, cables on said drums extending downwardly, thence across the machine, thence upwardly, and thence down to the other side of each platform, and means for imparting rotation to the shafts.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 21, 1922.

DON L. HARFORD. 

